Post cap



y 15, 1941; G. A. GUSTAFSON 2,249,381 Y POST CAP Filed April 29, 1939 in? war/7 Patented July 15, 1941 POST CAP Application April 29, 1939, Serial No. 270,951

2 illaims.

The present invention relates to closure caps for hollow or recessed articles such as pipes, posts and the like, and aims particularly to provide an ornamental closure for tubular posts frequently used for fencing, flag staffs, stanchions, etc.

An essential feature of the invention is the inclusion of means assembled with a closure cap which is automatically effective upon insertion of a part thereof in the end of a recessed or tubular article to thereafter resist or prevent removal of the cap from such article. Thus the invention provides means which will resist the efforts of unauthorized persons to remove the cap.

The above and other features of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detail disclosure, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a post embodying the present invention,

a portion of an ornamental cap being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a sectional view at right angles to Figure 1, as taken approximately on the staggered line IIII thereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrative of the condition of an insertable portion of the cap prior to its assembly with a hollow post.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in which like reference characters in the several views refer to corresponding parts, there is provided a post member i usually of tubular or other hollow construction. 'For closing the end of such diameter of the post provides means whereby the sharp edges of the extremities of such fingers will dig into the wall of the post so as to resist the outward movement of the post. The act of driving the shank inwardly is efiective to bend the fingers or cause them to curve slightly upwards, as indicated at 5 in the drawing. In some cases the fingers may be prebent slightly before the cap is driven to assembled position. Such prebent fingers are exemplified in Figure 4. The cap in the embodiment of the invention illustrated has a decorative upper body 3 in the form of a ball, and below the same there is provided a depending skirt having an "annular flange l constructed and arranged to surround the upper extremity of the post so as to seal the interior thereof and protect it from the weather and also to prevent the insertion of any implement into the post to facilitate unauthorized removal of the cap.

For most normal uses the cap is a permanent fixture on the end of the hollow tubular article after its original assembly therewith. However,

if for any reason removal of the cap is desired,

' tubing having an internal diameter slightly in excess of the shank 3' and an external diameter which would make an easy working fit within the hollow post. Reciprocation of such a pipelike tool with a hammer action will flex all the fingers sufiiciently to permit the cap to be readily driven off the end of the post.

The described assemblage provides a new and improved means effective to prevent the unauthorized removal of caps for hollow or recessed articles. The parts are of simple construction and can be manufactured readily by interchangeable methods of manufacture so as to keep down costs. The shank 3 may conveniently be formed of a short length of tubing insertable i a suitaby formed aperture of any ornamental cap element, and said tubing can be readily joined or united to the cap element by a body of weld metal 8 so as to homogeneously unite the shan to the ornamental portion of the cap 3.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention has been described with great particularity, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims, which are intended to be construed as broadly as is consistent with the prior state of the art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a hollow post, a cap therefor, a tubular shank secured to a central region of the cap and extending into said post, the inner end of said shank having a plurality of diametrically opposed apertures, separate bars forming fingers carried by said shank in crossed arrangement positioned in said apertures, said fingers having diametrically opposite flexed portions whose extremities, by virtue of their inherent characteristics, forcefully engage the inner surface of the post.

2. In combination with a hollow post, a cap therefor having an annular flange overlapping the end of the post, a tubular shank secured to a central region of the cap and extending into said post, the inner end of said shank having a plurality of diametrically opposed apertures, separate bars forming fingers carried by said shank in crossed arrangement positioned in said apertures, each of said fingers having outer diametrically opposite flexed portions whose extremities, by virtue of their inherent characteristics, tend to forcefully engage the inner surface of the post.

GUSTAF A. GUSTAFSON. 

